VCCA Sponsors VA Book Panel, March 28


On the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, the VCCA and Second Street Gallery present three practitioners and an astute observer of art and conflict to reflect on how artists address the most pressing social and political issues.

"Depravity, Upheaval and the Good War," features VCCA Fellows David Griffith and Judith Shatin and artist Sandow Birk, and is led in discussion by author and activist William Cleveland. Please join us Friday, March 28, 2008, at Second Street Gallery, 115 Second St., S.E., Charlottesville. Panel begins at 6 p.m. with a reception preceding at 5 p.m.

Sandow Birk is a west coast visual artist who, according to the Los Angeles Times "is pursuing one of the most fascinating, unpredictable careers in Los Angeles art." Birk's "Depravities of War" is currently at Second Street Gallery. The 15 large-scale woodcut prints follow the course of the Iraq war. His awards include the NEA, Guggenheim, Getty and Fulbright.

William Cleveland is an activist, teacher, lecturer, and director of the Center for the Study of Art & Community in Washington state. The author of Art in Other Places, his current book projects are Between Grace and Fear: The role of the Arts in a Time of Change and Art and Upheaval: Artists at Work on the World's Frontlines published in February 2008.

VCCA Fellow David Griffith is the author of A Good War is Hard to Find: The Art of Violence in America. He has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and has appeared in the Utne Reader, Image and Killing the Buddha, and other publications. He is professor of creative writing at Sweet Briar College.

VCCA Fellow Judith Shatin is an award-winning composer. Her composition "Songs of War and Peace" is based on the work of Israeli poets. Honored with four NEA fellowships, Shatin is the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor at the University of Virginia and the Director of the Virginia Center for Computer Music. Her work has been performed at the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, Tel Aviv Opera, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Guest Blogger: C.M. Mayo

Image
From Fellow C.M. Mayo : In the years of writing, researching, and revising my novel, T he Last Prince of the Mexican Empire (Unbridled Books, May 5, 2009), I enjoyed several  intensely productive stays at VCCA. A few sparkles:   In the corn crib studio: Drafting General Achille Bazaine's flashback scenes of 1850s Algeria, Arab music on the CD player, snow falling on the skylight. At dinner: Chatting with novelist Josephine Humphreys about archives and the influence of the dead. By the fireplace in the living room : Reading these same pages with Peter Behrens ,  reading from his novel then in-progress, The Law of Dream s. Eating potato chips with poets Sandra Beasley and Alfred Corn . Trying not to be embarrassed when Alfred (bless him) corrected my French pronunciation.   In Sweet Briar's Library : After checking e-mail, reading Virgil. Rectangles of autumn light falling on the old tables.   One sunny afternoon outside my studio by the barn:  Finding Peter Behrens,
Read more

VCCA and Sweet Briar College Enter Long-Range Planning Process

Image
After decades of informal discussions, VCCA and Sweet Briar College have decided to study the various possibilities of a permanent home for VCCA. VCCA has been leasing Mt. San Angelo from Sweet Briar since 1977. Both institutions have agreed to actively pursue a long-term solution to the current annual lease renewals. The timing is mutually beneficial in that VCCA is embarking on a new Strategic Plan, while Sweet Briar is implementing its Plan for Sustainable Excellence. The opportunities to explore include, but are not limited to, the following options: VCCA purchases the Mt. San Angelo property and remains there VCCA and SBC enter into a lease-to-purchase agreement for the Mt. San Angelo property and VCCA remains there VCCA moves to the Sweet Briar College campus VCCA moves to another non-SBC location This is a long-range planning process, one that will take place over the course of several years. VCCA Fellows, friends and supporters will be invited to share
Read more

The Auvillar Community Connection

Image
VCCA’s programming in Auvillar is greatly enriched by the Auvillar community and it's surrounding areas. This has become clear during the Etchings Festival when a number of community members welcomed guest composers, performers, and participants into their homes. Jacques and Annick Sarraut hosted a beautiful dinner for the entire Etchings Festival as well as others from the community. After a successful first concert, Joelle Cywie welcomed the Etchings guest composers, performers, and staff into her home for celebratory champagne and dessert. VCCA-France has members in the United States, Auvillar, and the surrounding communities. Many of these members support the programming by welcoming VCCA Fellows in residence or program participants into their homes for cooking demonstrations and meals, and by taking them to visit local sites during their time in Auvillar as well as attending events hosted by VCCA. The VCCA-France is currently helping to raise funds to purchase a keyboard
Read more